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Meetings & Upcoming Events

We meet one Sunday a month from 2 PM to 5 PM alternating between our Nassau and Suffolk meeting locations. 

What can you expect when you attend a PFLAG Meeting?

PFLAG is all about Support, Education, and Advocacy.  For people attending their first meeting, it is all about Support. 

You will meet parents or family members of loved ones who have recently "come out" to them as well as others who have been members for many years and have gone through much of what you are just beginning to experience. 

For some parents, this news is very difficult to deal with.  Most of us have never had anyone tell us they have a gay child and many just do not know what to do with this information.  While some people find this news quite distressing; they may be angry or hurt, others are readily accepting, but all have questions.  There is a lot to learn and PFLAG is the place to ask questions in a safe environment.  All that takes place during our meetings is treated as confidential.

PFLAG is where we share our experiences in small groups and support each other as we go through the process of learning, accepting and celebrating our families.  We represent many social, political, and religious backgrounds but are neither a religious nor a political group. 

We meet to engage in discussion in informal, confidential rap groups led by trained facilitators where we support and encourage one another as we seek to keep families in loving relationships after learning that a family member is gay.

Our meetings are not group therapy, seminars, or workshops.  No one is called upon or expected to speak until they are comfortable doing so.  We know that listening is often all a new participant can do and when they are ready to talk, they are given all the time and attention they need.  We do not probe or question ones feelings as we know that all feelings are valid.  People share as much or as little as they are comfortable with, often opening up as time goes on. 

PFLAG is the place to come where you know you will receive a positive reaction when you say “My son is gay” or “My daughter is a lesbian”, or “I am gay”.  For many, PFLAG is the place where those words are first uttered in public and here they are greeted with a smile. 

Newcomers are often greeted with such warmth and support that they are able to articulate for the first time all the disturbing thoughts and fears they have been harboring since their loved ones came out to them.  They benefit from the experience of members who are further along in the process of learning, understanding, and accepting as they learn facts they belie stereotypes and the negativity put forth by the mean-spirited seeking to marginalize our children.  They receive reassurance (that our children are happy and healthy living wonderful lives with their life partners), information, and guidance as to how to deal with others who may be less enlightened.  Newcomers hear the ease with which members say “I have a gay child” and then learn that not too long ago they, too, were newcomers with the same emotions and fears that have been overcome.

 

We meet to discuss the political and social environment that affects our LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgender) loved ones and learn how we can work to advocate for their equal civil rights.  We enjoy the camaraderie of other families with gay members and of our gay PFLAG members while we socialize, laugh, smile, share family photos, enjoy refreshments, and become educated by guest speakers. 

We have a free lending library from which members are encouraged to borrow books and videos to help in the education process.  Borders, Barnes and Noble as well as your public library are great sources for literature

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

 

See below for address and directions for upcoming meetings.

 

The most important part of each meeting is the support group portion of the meeting when we meet in small groups lead by trained facilitators and can ask questions, voice concerns, and share experiences.  Each meeting  also provides opportunity for socializing, listening to a speaker, and enjoying refreshments

 

On June 8th we marched in the Huntington Pride Parade as we have every year since it began.  Our participation is particularly important and makes a great impact on the LGBT community on Long Island.  

On June 29th we will march with the NYC PFLAG Chapter at the head of the NYC Heritage of Pride Parade.  This is very exciting and a great honor.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the founding of PFLAG NYC in March 1973.  As you may know, PFLAG's founding is closely linked to New York's Pride March, since it was Jeanne Manford's marching in the 1972 Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day Parade in 1972 that led parents to come together to form our organization the next year.

To commemorate this important anniversary and to celebrate parents and families who love their LGBT children, the NYC Chapter of PFLAG has been chosen by the Heritage of Pride leadership to be Honorary Grand Marshals of the 2008 Pride March, and has invited us to join them and help them celebrate their anniversary at the head of the parade.

We have always been happy and proud to march together in the impressive PFLAG contingent in the Pride March and look forward to your marching with us this year.  We would love to make this year's PFLAG group the largest ever.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if, across the country, as they watch the evening news on television, people could see a large contingent of ordinary moms and dads who look just like themselves marching out front in support of their LGBT family members?  The loud cheers from the crowd that have always greeted our appearance in past marches would be an eye-opener to people everywhere.

We have the opportunity to show our love and pride in large numbers. It is our hope that you join us and bring as many marchers as you can to march with us in this year's Pride Parade.  The visual impact to people everywhere would be powerful.

The NYC Chapter is working on some ideas and seeking sponsors to allow all the PFLAG chapters to have some unifying element in the March this year and will keep in touch with us as their plans develop. I hope you will join us.

 

Calendar of  Meetings

 

Month

Nassau

Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center,

300 Forest Dr., East Hills

Suffolk

Suffolk JCC

74 Hauppauge Rd

Commack NY 11725

631-462-9800

2008

July

July 13 

 

 

August

 No scheduled meeting

No scheduled meeting

September

September 14

 

October

 

October 19

November

November 16

 

December

 

December 14

2009

 

January

 

 

January 11

 

 

 

February

 

February 8

March

March 15

 

April

 

April 19

May

May 17

 

 

In June we do not meet.  We march in both the Long Island Pride Parade in Huntington and the New York City Heritage of Pride Parade.  Amazing and affirming experiences always!

 

Other Related Meetings and/or Events

Board Meeting:  Date to be announced

 

Directions

To Sid Jacobson JCC

 

300 Forest Dr

East Hills NY

516-484-1545

 

From New York City:

Long Island Expressway to Exit 37, Willis/Mineola Ave.

  • Turn left at the traffic light (Mineola Ave.) proceed approximately 1 ½ miles to Northern Blvd./25A (Exxon Station on corner).
  • Turn right onto Northern Blvd. Proceed over viaduct about ½ mile to Forest Drive (1st traffic light/East Hills Chrysler-Plymouth on corner).
  • Turn right onto Forest Drive and bear left around the bend to the JCC.

Northern State Parkway to Exit 28N, Willis Ave. North.

  • Turn right onto Willis Ave. and travel approximately ½ miles to Northern Blvd./25A. (Follow directions above).

See A Map

From Eastern Long Island:

Long Island Expressway to Exit 39N, Glen Cove Road.

  • Turn right at traffic light onto Glen Cove Rd.
  • Proceed approximately 2 miles to Northern Blvd./25A.
  • Turn left onto Northern Blvd.
  • At the second traffic light turn left onto Forest Drive (East Hills Chrysler-Plymouth on corner) and bear left around the bend to the JCC.

Northern State Parkway to Exit 31N, Glen Cove Rd.

·         Turn left at traffic light onto Glen Cove Rd. (heading north).

·         Proceed approximately 3 miles to Northern Blvd./25A. (Follow Directions above).

 

 

To The Suffolk JCC in Commack

 

74 Hauppauge Road

Commack NY 11725

631-462-9800

 

 

  • Take Southern State Parkway North to Seaford-Oyster Bay Expresseay (Rte 135) to Northern State Parkway or the Long Island Expressway.

 

Then either:

 

  •  Take Northern State Parkway to exit 43 (Commack Road), go left at the traffic light, north on Commack Road for 4 lights to Hauppauge Road.  Make a left at the traffic light. 

 

The Suffolk Y JCC is ¼ mile on the right.

 

Or:

 

  • Take LIE traveling East to exit 52 north (Commack Road).  Go north on Commack road for 8 lights to Hauppauge Road as above.

 

         Or

 

  • Take LIE traveling West to exit 53 north (Commack Road).  Go north on Commack road for 8 lights to Hauppauge Road as above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians And Gays - Long Island
P.O. Box 369, Deer Park, NY 11729-0369

 

info@pflag.org

 

• Confidential Help Line (516) 938-8913